USA > Georgia > Bibb County > Macon > Georgia Baptists: historical and biographical > Part 9
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In 1828, the session was held with the church at Tessentee, Habersham county. Introductory by James Riley. The most important matter was a motion to request the churches to insert in the letters for next year the date of their constitution, which was complied with. This is the only Association, except the Georgia and Central, which know the time of the birth of their constituents. Baptized, two hundred and twenty-four; total number, eight hundred and twenty-four.
In 1829, the meeting is at Timber ridge, Hall county. A. Anthony preached the introductory. Deacons' meetings recom- mended.
Sardis, Hall county, entertained the Association in 1830, and Evans Pearson preached the introductory. B. Reynolds was advertised as excluded from Timber ridge church; also John Roberts. The plan of the Sarepta Association in licensing preachers is recommended, and the churches advised to accept he tracts offered by the Baptist General Tract Society. On he petition of Harmony church, it is observed, "We think that he churches have it in their power to improve or advance their ministry by putting into their ministering brethrens' hands, rthodox theological books," and recommended to raise funds, nd send up to the next session for this purpose. Churches, wenty-three ; total number, one thousand four hundred and eventy-eight.
The session of 1831 was held at Bethabara, Jackson county, nd introductory preached by James Whitten.
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In 1832, the meeting was at Holly Spring, Hall county. Mr. Kinzy preached the introductory, and William Manning, mod- erator. Dismissed two churches to unite in forming a new Association, probably the Mountain. Baptized three hundred and two.
Harmony, Hall county, was the seat of the session for 1833. Wm. Manning preached the introductory. Four new churches, Island Ford, Mount Tabor, Liberty and the one at Cherokee court-house, received. Agreed to correspond with the Mountain, a new Association. Recommend itinerant preaching, and the churches to defray the expense.
Yellow creek, Hall county, entertained the body in 1834. A. Anthony preached the introductory. Four new churches joined, probably from the Cherokee Nation, as that region is now fast settling up. Agreed to correspond with the State Convention, and Manning and R. Jones are appointed messengers-the first attends. Appointed a committee of five on domestic missions. The benevolent institutions, tract, Bible societies, etc., recom- mended. Requested A. Anthony to write out his introductory (on missions, from Revelations xiv. 6 and 7,) and have one thousand copies printed. Mission money collected, $42 50; twenty-nine churches, one thousand four hundred members. Preachers on the Sabbath, Vandiver, from the Tugalo; Byers and Jones. Antioch, Hightower, Goshen and Silver Spring churches united.
In 1835, the meeting is at Suwanee church, Gwinnett county S. Roberts preached the introductory. Dropped the correspon dence with the Convention for the present. Several churche dismissed to form two new Associations, one north and on west of us, and committees sent to assist. It is recommende to preach a mission sermon at each session, and the Index i also recommended. The following report is inserted : Six Sal Bethe bath-schools, two missionary, and five temperance societie some churches revived, and the cause of benevolence advancing Musco found Resolved that we will approve, encourage and support ever effort that is now making in the cause of benevolence and re Flint B ligion that God appears to own and bless. A committee @fremlar domestic missions is appointed. T. M. Kinzy, the missionar reports favorably-had baptized forty-four persons and const
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tuted two churches. Mission money, $52 77}. Ordained min- isters, fifteen ; licentiates, three ; ninety-eight baptized; total, one thousand four hundred and seven. James Riley, the first moderator, had died. 4
The session for October, 1837, is held at Bethlehem, Hall county. Anthony, preacher and moderator, and Rives, clerk. Messengers from the Tugalo, Sarepta, Hightower and Yellow River Associations were in attendance ; also letter, minutes and messengers from Chestatee, and agreed to correspond. This is probably the first year after the organization of the Chestatee.
The report on the state of religion shows the churches to be in a low state; recommended family and public worship, and secret prayer, and deacons to set an example. Paid Wellborn Hutchins, Roberts and Chandler, domestic missionaries, $38 15. The circular is on the low estate of Zion, and measures sug- gested for revival. Fifteen churches, eight ministers and seven hundred and fifty nine members.
COLUMBUS ASSOCIATION.
This body is situated in the western part of the State, in- cluding the churches in Talbot, Harris and Muscogee counties, and a few others. It was organized at New Hope, now Mul- berry meeting-house, in Harris county, November 21, 1829. By previous invitation, elders John Milner, James Carter, James Henderson, S. Stamper and B. Strickland, from the Flint River Association, and Z. H. Gordon and Jacob King, from the Echa- conna Association, attended as a presbytery. Brother J. Milner was called to the chair, and J. King nominated secretary. The letters from twelve churches were then read, viz : from Talbot county, Valley Grove, New Providence, Talbotton, Antioch, Bethel, Concord; from Harris county, Bethesda, New Hope, (now Mulberry,) Lebanon, (now Hamilton,) Mount Olive ; from Muscogee county, Bethel and Columbus. The churches being found in order, were constituted on the articles of faith of the Flint River Association, which are the same as those of the on regular Baptist churches. Elder Anderson Smith was elected ry moderator, and Clark Blanford, of Hamilton, clerk. The num- st ber of members, four hundred and fifty-four; baptized this
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year, one hundred and thirteen. ' The bounds of the Associa- tion were then defined and laid off into districts, viz : first, Harris county ; second, Talbot county ; third, Muscogee county ; fourth, Randolph, Lee and Marion counties. A. Smith the only minister in the body.
The second session of this body was held with the Talbotton church, on Saturday before the second Sabbath in October, which has ever since been the time of its sessions. John Ross was elected moderator, and C. Blanford, clerk. The country being new, and the churches scattered over a large space of territory, and having none of the bonds which previous ac- quaintance create to bind individuals together, it could not be fairly expected that there should be found amongst them all that union and sameness of sentiment and feeling which are found in older and longer established unions. And although the ministers were not men of literary attainments, they may be truly said to have been men of sound mind and amiable character.
The third session of this body was held with the church at Mount Carmel, Muscogee county, in 1831. J. Ross, moderator, C. Blanford, clerk. Number of churches, twenty-five ; commu- nicants, one thousand and eighty-seven. Ministers now in this body, were John M. Gray, Anderson Smith, G. B. Waldrop, Hiram Powell, Barclay Martin, J. English, J. W. Pelham and Peter Eldridge.
At this meeting of the body, a package of the minutes of the Georgia Baptist Convention was laid before it by R. Fleming, who was then traveling as a domestic missionary ; but such was the opposition of many of the brethren present, that al- though it was moved by J. M. Gray that it be received and no- ticed in a friendly way in their minutes, yet it was rejected, and not noticed in their minutes. Ross and Martin were de- sirous that the minutes of the Convention should be received and noticed as above, and some of the private members desired it. Although they appeared, as an Association, unwilling to hold correspondence with the Convention, and were disposed to stand aloof from all the benevolent enterprises maintained and defended by that body, yet they passed a resolution disap- proving of candidates treating at elections, and earnestly de-
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sired their members and their fellow-citizens to unite with them in endeavoring to put down such pernicious practice. This resolution was introduced by B. Martin, and defended with much zeal and ability. Had it not been, it probably would not have passed.
The fourth session of the Association was held at Sardis church, in Marion county. J. M. Gray, moderator, A. Smith, clerk. Churches, thirty-two; members, one thousand five hun- dred and thirty-nine. The rapid increase of population in the country, and the multiplication of new churches, made it no- cessary, in order to supply the wants of the people, for the ministers to spend much of their time in traveling and preach- ing. Amongst the most active were Ross, Gray, A. Smith and H. Powell.
The following resolution was passed, (but not without serious opposition by the moderator, and some others,) viz. : " Whereas, certain men, under the name of apostolic Baptist ministers, viz. : James Wilson, James Reeves, Cyrus White, John Holmes, B. H. Willson, J. Travis, John Reeves, W. Byars, W. Presley, B. Strickland, E. Strickland and Moses White, have published a faith differing from the orthodox Baptists, and as they have already caused divisions among us, we recommend the churches composing this Association to discountenance all such men as ministers." This resolution was opposed on account of its in- quisitorial aspect.
The fifth session was held with the church at Mount Zion, Randolph county. Churches, forty-three ; members, one thous- and eight hundred and six ; ministers, eleven ; licentiates, four. J. Ross, moderator; A. Smith, clerk. The number of churches now in the body, and the extensive space of country over which they were spread, made it desirable that another Association should be organized out of churches in the southern bounds of this body; hence, the following churches took letters for that purpose, viz .: In Stewart county, Antioch, Richland, Fellow- ship, Mount Paran, Liberty and Bethlehem; in Sumter county, Shiloh, Providence, Bethesda, Bethel and Spring Creek ; in Ran- dolph county, Mount Zion, Mount Sinai, Pataula, Bethlehem and Antioch ; in Early county, Smyrna and Liberty Hill. These churches were organized into an Association called Bethel, at
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Richland church, in Stewart county, on Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in November, 1833.
The sixth session at Bethesda, Harris county, 1834. J. Ross, moderator, and A. Smith, clerk. Churches, thirty ; members, two thousand five hundred and eighty-eight ; ministers, ten ; licen- tiates, ten. During this year, the Association sustained a severe loss in the death of Elder J. M. Gray, one of her most active and able ministers. He died on a tour of preaching, at a Mr. Pitman's, Alabama, after having taken a dose of lobelia on lying down at night. (See Biographical Sketches.) The churches this year enjoyed the greatest revival ever experienced in this country-eight hundred and five baptisms. The ministers, un- der the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit, were waked up to untiring zeal in the discharge of their sacred duties. The spirit of missions took possession of most of them; meetings were held and protracted, and hundreds flocked to hear and learn the truth as it is in Jesus. The style of preaching was altered. Sinners were told they must repent or perish-must believe or be damned. Those churches only, however, which en- joyed the ministrations of the effort preachers were visited with revivals, as will be seen when we notice the churches sep- arately. It is remarkable that, as a body, this Association, as yet, was much opposed to the benevolent institutions. In spirit she was missionary, but in practice she was not ; for, at this ses- sion, when a friendly letter from the Convention was presented by delegates from that body, viz. : Jeremiah Reeves and T. Daw- son, desiring to open correspondence, it was rejected, and not noticed in the proceedings of the day. They were merely in- vited to preach, which they did, but they left before adjourn- ment. The ministers of this body were all the advocates of missions. What but an unjustifiable dread of responsibility could have been the cause of their not entering decidedly into the work of spreading the gospel in connection with the friends of benevolence ? The character which the ministers and the Association sustained abroad authorized the expectation that she would have come out in concert with the friends of missions long before this.
The seventh session was held at Bethel, Talbot county. J Ross, moderator, and R. Fleming, clerk. Churches, twenty-nine
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members, two thousand six hundred; baptisms, two hundred and twenty-two. Nothing special done at this meeting, except that she still rejected correspondence offered by the Conven- tion through Elder J. H. Campbell.
The eighth session was held at Bethel, Muscogee county. The Association now becomes more of a business-doing body, and though she would have readily united with the Convention, by an overwhelming majority, yet for the sake of some who were opposed, the advocates declined urging the matter. The following resolution was passed unanimously : " Resolved, that this body approves of the objects of the Convention, but regard- ing the feelings of some of our dear brethren, we deem it pru- dent, for the present, to postpone a correspondence, so far as we are concerned." The brethren, C. D. Mallary and J. E. Daw- son, were present, and they, with the delegates from that body to this, did much good; and it is believed that by their able counsel, exhortations, prayers and sermons, they made an im- pression of the most favorable kind respecting educated minis- ters, missionary and temperance societies, etc. The Association recommended a meeting to be held at County Line, Talbot county, for the purpose of devising a plan by which to supply with preaching the destitute in and around the bounds of this body. This meeting was held on the Friday and Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in November, 1836, and a domestic missionary society was formed. Elder T. J. Hand, by appoint- ment, preached the introductory sermon, and J. Moon on the subject of missions on the Sabbath. A collection for missionary purposes was taken, and $116 were raised. This may be con- sidered the starting point in missions by the Association. El- der George Granberry wrote the circular letter this year, and selected as his theme the importance of remembering " the Sab- bath day to keep it holy;" also, the duty of christians in support- ing the gospel ministry, at home and abroad. The sin of visit- ing, traveling and starting to market on Sunday, or Saturday evening, has been too common in the country generally, for which we ought to be ashamed and repent. With but one soli- tary dissenting voice the following resolution was passed: " Resolved, that we fully concur with the Ebenezer Association in the opinion that the difference of sentiment entertained by
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members, churches and Associations, in relation to the mission cause, and other benevolent efforts, should not affect fellow- ship." This year correspondence was opened with the Central Association, by a very large majority.
The ninth session was held at Union, Marion county, (now Fellowship, Macon county.) Elder J. Ross, who had been the moderator, having departed this life, (June 17, 1837,) J. Perry- man was elected moderator, and R. Fleming continued clerk. The rules of the Baptist State Convention for the reception of beneficiaries were published in the minutes this year, which no doubt had a good effect in removing prejudice from the minds of some, and correcting error in others. The churches were recommended to send up to the next session contributions for the purpose of supporting one or more missionaries, in her own bounds and parts around. The society which had been organ- ized at " County Line," agreeable to the advice of the last ses- sion, reported by her secretary, R. Fleming, the proceedings, and was recommended to go on in the management and direc- tion of its business.
The circular letter this year was written by Elder H. Powell, on the subject : " Ye are the light of the world." The ministers and lay-members are urged to their several duties in a clear and sensible manner; "the stool of do-nothing " is made out to be a very poor thing, and creeping and crawling, in religion, a very slow way to press toward the mark for the prize.
Horeb and Upatoie churches, in Talbot county, and Bethel, in Meriwether, did not represent themselves at this session, owing to their opposition to the missionary spirit, which they evidently saw would pervade the body. They subsequently united in forming a new Association, which, by way of emi- nence, they called " The Apostolic Baptist Association." In this they were joined by remnants from Ariel, in Crawford, from Mount Carmel, in Muscogee, and Valley Grove, in Talbot, and some others. These were very small churches. They declared non-fellowship with all the churches friendly to the benevolent institutions, and closed their doors against all the liberal min- isters who advocate, as they say, the " society system." "Tis pass- ing strange, that amongst these, as amongst some other opposers of missions, there should be efforts made to impress upon the
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public mind the belief that the mission societies are connected with the abolitionists, and that the advocates of missions are abolitionists! It is difficult to believe that they believe what they say in this respect. Again, they endeavor to brand the advocates of the Bible, tract, mission, Sunday-school, education and temperance societies with disaffection towards the govern- ment, with designs to subvert and overturn the glorious fabric of the republic! Now, who that knows his A, B, C, in the rise and downfall of nations, does not know that the general defu- sion of education, morality and religion is indispensable to the perpetuity of a republican form of government? And what is- the tendency of all the above societies ? Our sapient opposers say, "to subvert the government !"
The tenth session was held with the church at Hamilton, 1838. Perryman, moderator; Fleming, clerk. Churches, twenty-nine ; members, two thousand and seven hundred ; ministers, fourteen. The introductory sermon by G. Granberry. There were present about thirty-five preachers, including those belonging to the body-a larger number than ever before assembled in Western Georgia. This was one of the most pleasant, interesting and profitable meetings ever enjoyed by the Association. But one spirit seemed to pervade this large assemblage of the worshipers of God. An extensive revival had been enjoyed in a large por- tion of the churches only a few weeks previously, and the mem- bers were fully prepared, in their feelings and judgment, to enter into the wide and delightful field of benevolent opera- tions.
Eight delegates, viz. : J. Perryman, Robert Fleming, George Granberry, Jesse Moon, G. B. Waldrop, Hiram Powell, W. Hen- derson, Samuel Harris, were elected to bear a letter to the Geor- gia Baptist Convention, petitioning to become a component member of that body at its session in 1839, at Richland, in Twiggs county. This was a perfectly unanimous act of the body. At this meeting, also, the domestic mission society, formed two years previously, paid over into the hands of the treasurer of the Association the funds of said society, and the Association took the business under her patronage and man- agement. The sum sent up by the churches amounted to $200 25, which, with the sum collected in the congregation after
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a sermon by Elder J. E. Dawson on Sabbath, amounted to $356 25. The missionary operations are now carried on by an executive committee, viz. : Jesse Carter, M. A. George, John Neal, Springer Gibson, James Boykin, and George Granberry, treasurer, and James Perryman, chairman of the committee. This committee had in its employ, as a domestic missionary, G. W. Key, and expects, by the help of the Lord, to keep at least one minister constantly in its service.
The auxiliary society, which for several years past had been acting in concert with the Convention, dissolved, and will trans- mit its donations to benevolent objects, to the Convention, through the delegates from the Association.
THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION.
This body was constituted at LaGrange, Troup county, on the 7th November, 1829, by committees from the Flint River and Yellow River Associations, consisting of the following min- isters, viz. : Joel Colley, R. Gunn, G. Daniel, J. Milner, William Moseley, William Henderson, J. Carter and J. Nichols. The in- troductory discourse was by brother J. Colley. Sixteen churches were found to be in good order, and acknowledged as the West- ern Association. James Reeves was the first moderator, and John Wood, clerk. J. Nichols, William Moseley and A. Sherwood preached on the Sabbath.
The second session, 1830, was held at Newnan. J. Bankston, moderator, and J. Wood, clerk. Sixteen new churches joined. On Sabbath, Jesse Mercer, Moseley and Nichols preached. The following year Greenville was the seat of the session, when J. W. Cooper preached the introductory. J. Bankston (who sus- tained the office six or seven years) was moderator, and R. M. Stell, clerk. The Association refused to correspond with the Georgia Convention. Churches thirty-nine ; total, one thous- and five hundred and forty-six.
Query : " What is the duty of a church, when a person applies for membership on a letter from a church, which had dissented from the Flint River Association ?"
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Answer: " Recommended the churches to direct the person
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to seek restoration in some church of the Association from whence he came, that is known to stand fair," etc.
In 1833, the above answer was reconsidered, and the follow- ing adopted in lieu thereof: "We recommend the churches to act discretionally, with an eye single to the glory of God, and the union and peace of the churches, having due regard to orig- inal principles." The error in the first answer is this : it takes for granted that, because a church has dissented or seceded from the Association, therefore, her letters are not valid, which is not true. The Flint River Association did not like the answer of 1833, and appointed a committee, in October, to visit the Western with a letter. In 1834, a kind of compromise was drawn up, which should govern in the reception of members ; but as it required the rebaptism of those who had submitted to the or- dinance at the hands of seceding ministers, James Reeves and James Culberson would not sign it, and the churches have acted discretionally and received those whom they deemed worthy. Mount Zion and Emmaus churches had been dealing with La- Grange and Hephzibah churches for receiving such members ; but on the proposal of the adjustment, they were advised to drop their charges. Several churches were dismissed to form the Tallapoosa Association.
In 1835, the session was with Bethlehem church, Meriwether county. Baptized, six hundred and twenty-nine ; churches, forty-four; total, three thousand two hundred and fourteen. The following year, at Long Cane, some churches declared non- fellowship with all benevolent institutions, and wished the body to do the same; but a resolution to this effect was voted down. For the year 1837, the session was held at Emmaus, in Troup county. The circular letter by Otis Smith is on the commis- sion. Several churches were still dissatisfied on account of benevolent institutions, etc. These withdrew and formed a dis- tinct body, still claiming the old name of " Western Associa- tion." With reference to these churches, the following resolu- tions were adopted :
Whereas, It has been repeatedly charged upon this Associa- tion by the delegates of those churches which have separated from our union and declared themselves no more of us, that we have departed from original principles, that we are connected
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with the benevolent institutions of the day, and that we have departed from the common faith of the denomination; and, whereas, incorrect impressions in relation to our principles and practice, as an Association, may be produced by permitting these charges to remain unnoticed ; therefore,
Resolved by this Association, That the faith upon which we were constituted, and which we believe has ever been the faith of the regular Baptists, is still the faith of this body; that it has never been changed, and it is the sense of this body that it should not be changed in any particular.
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